First Independent Mena Newspaper
Regime opacity and the secrecy shrouding the successor to ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika have been hampering Algeria from carrying out economic reforms to wean their economy from dependence on hydrocarbons, especially as the languishing oil prices at 50 dollars a barrel are set to last for years longer. International think tanks and independent media are […]
Algeria’s ambiguity and its suspicious role in the fight against terrorism were raised during the meeting of Presidents and Speakers of Parliaments from the 47 Council of Europe member states, held on September 15-16 in Strasbourg. The remarks made at the Congress signal a growing confidence crisis between Algiers and the EU regarding the fight […]
A presidential decree, that is yet to be published in the official gazette, has dissolved Algeria’s influential Department of Intelligence and Security (DRS) and created a new intelligence agency known as the Direction of Security Services (DSS.) The new agency is to be led by a retired DRS chief, General Athmane Tartag, making many to […]
Former head of the Algerian counter-terrorism agency General Hassan was handed a five-year prison sentence by a military court in a behind closed doors trial. Abdelkader Ait-Ouarabi, known as General Hassan, was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of destroying documents and disobeying military orders. Gen. Hassan headed successfully the Algerian counter-terrorism department […]
The power struggle raging in the North African country of Algeria is nowhere near over yet. On the contrary the showdown between presidency inner circles and military intelligence apparatus, which was brewing underneath, is now getting more serious and alarming after General Mohamed Mediene, or as he is more commonly known General Taoufik, was summarily […]
The Algerian presidency announced Sunday the “retirement” of the head of Algerian intelligence services (DRS) General Mohamed Mediène nick-named “Toufik”. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Head of State and Minister of National Defense “has put an end to the functions of the Head of Intelligence Department, occupied by General Mohamed Mediene who has retired,” a statement by the […]
President Bouteflika seems to be solidifying his position, according to experts, by arresting several top security officials and by sacking or ordering the resignations of others with the help of his allies, amongst them the army chief of staff Ahmed Gaid Salah. The arrest of the anti-terrorism chief and the sacking of top officials in […]